Effects Of She-gan-ma-huang-tang Suppresses Airway Inflammation And Regulates Th1/Th2 Balance In A Rat Asthmatic Model

Aims and meaning:In recent years, the incidence of asthma continues to rise. In last decade, the incidence of asthma doubled in Europe, 15% of adults suffering from asthma, while the 5% of patient with poor control. The prevalence of asthma in China is 1-4%, so we need a new method of asthma urgently in clinical treatment. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airway in which many cells, T lymphocytes, Eosinophil, monocyte play a role and the abnormal accumulation and activation of immune-related cell are its features. Furthermore, studies have shown that the susceptible property of disease is determined by Th1/Th2 balance, which is a main immunological basis of asthma. IFN-γand IL-4 can control the differentiation and function of CD+T cell from positive to negative aspect,which is character of Th1 and Th2 respectively . The Th1/Th2 balance will change when Th2 response is dominant, which play an important role in chemotactics, maturation, survival of airway inflammation cells. So suppressing Th2-type response,while enhancing Th1-type response is considered a good method to treat asthma. To observe the effects of airway inflammation and Th1 /Th2 balance from BALF and IL-4, IFN-γin peripheral by using She-Gan-Ma-Huang-Tang in a rat asthmatic model and investigate its mechanism of action.Methods:40 female SD rats were divided randomly into 4 groups: the normal control group, the asthmatic model group, the dexamethasone group and the She-Gan-Ma-Huang-Tang group. Established a rat asthmatic model. The Eosinophil, neutrophil, lymphocyte count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were made with Wright's staining. The level of IL-4 and IFN-γin peripheral blood was detected by ELISA.Results:1.She-Gan-Ma-Huang-Tang can relieve onset of asthmatic symptom .2 . Levels of Eosinophil, neutrophil, lymphocyte in BALF were significantly declined in asthmatic model group by using She-Gan-Ma- Huang-Tang(P<0.01). There was statistically significant difference between She-Gan-Ma-Huang-Tang and dexamethasone on reduction the number of Eosinophils and lymphocyte in BALF (P<0.05).3.She-Gan-Ma-Huang-Tang can markedly reduce the level of IL-4 and improve the ratio of IL-4/IFN-γ(P<0.05) , which has no statistically significant difference compared with dexamethasone(P>0.05).Conclusion:She-Gan-Ma-Huang-Tang can decrease airway inflammation, regulate Th1/Th2 imbalance and alleviate airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in a rat asthmatic model, which may be one of mechanism of action to treat asthmatic disease.